PBI solves teenage auto-rickshaw driver murder, arrests prime suspect in Manikganj

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has claimed to have solved the murder of 16-year-old battery-run auto-rickshaw driver Sakibul in Manikganj's Singair upazila, arresting the prime suspect in the case.

The suspect, Asaduzzaman Asad, 34, was arrested on Wednesday evening from the Jadurchar area near the Ayesha Akter Madrasa Gate in Hemayetpur, Savar, PBI officials said.

At a press briefing on Thursday, PBI Manikganj Superintendent of Police Joyita Shilpi said the accused gave a preliminary statement describing the circumstances of the killing during interrogation.

According to the PBI, Asad is a resident of Golai Natunpara village under Jamsha Union in Singair upazila. He worked as an assistant manager at a hotel in Savar.

The victim, Sakibul, was the son of Rahmat Ali of Gobindapur village under Betila-Mitra Union in Manikganj Sadar upazila.

Investigators said that on June 30, Asad was returning home from work when heavy rain forced him to take shelter at a pharmacy near Mitora Bus Stand. After the rain subsided, at around 6:30pm, he hired Sakibul's battery-run auto-rickshaw to travel to Golai Natunpara.

During the journey, the damaged condition of the road caused the vehicle to jolt repeatedly. Irritated by the rough ride, Asad allegedly asked the teenager to drive more carefully. At one stage, he reportedly lost his balance due to a severe jolt and slapped Sakibul from behind. The auto-rickshaw then veered off and struck a roadside tree.

The PBI said Sakibul got out of the vehicle and an argument broke out between the two, which soon escalated into a physical altercation. They eventually fell into a nearby jute field.

During the fight, Asad allegedly punched the teenager several times. When Sakibul screamed for help, the suspect reportedly covered his mouth and forced him face down into the muddy ground, causing mud to enter his mouth and obstruct his breathing. Investigators said Asad then sat on the victim's back and applied pressure to his neck until he became motionless.

The suspect allegedly fled the scene, leaving behind one of his sandals, which later became an important piece of evidence in the investigation.

According to investigators, Sakibul had taken his father's battery-run auto-rickshaw out for work at around 3:00pm on June 30 because his father had been suffering from a fever and had been unable to drive for a week.

When the teenager failed to return home, his family searched for him. The following day, police recovered his body from a jute field in Golai Natunpara. On July 2, the victim's father filed a murder case with Singair Police Station.

SP Joyita Shilpi said investigators first identified a suspect through CCTV footage collected from the Mitora Bus Stand area. They later verified his identity with the help of family members before conducting a raid that led to his arrest in Savar.

She also said that during preliminary interrogation, the accused claimed he had been suffering from personal and mental problems. He will be produced before the court, and further legal proceedings are underway.